Combined table and box.



J. G. MILES.

COMBINED TABLE AND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1914. L12&@11LL Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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COMBINED TABLE AND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1914.

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Suva/Moan J CMILES JOSEPH CLINTON MILES, 0F MADEIRA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED TABLE AND BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915..

Application filed April 29, 1914-. Serial No. 835,244.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr CLINTON MILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madera, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Tables and Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in camping outfits and more particularly to a combined table and box, the main object of the present invention being the provision of a device of the above character whereby when the same is arranged in an upright position, it will form a suitable table for use in camps or the like and can be quickly and readily folded together to provide a box for the camping outfit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a folding table which is adapted to be folded to form a box and which is provided with adjustable supporting legs, whereby the table when set up ready for use, may be arranged in suitable spaced relation with the ground and when folded in compact form, the legs thereof will be readily folded into the box.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at the same time, is simple in construction and operation.

W'ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the table set up in position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one of the sections, parts thereof beingbroken away and illustrated in cross section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the box in its closed position, parts thereof being illustrated in cross section. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the box showing'the sections in their folded position. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the handle members; i Fig. 7 is a rear elevation;

and Fig. 8 is a detail transverse sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the ends of the handle.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a folding box which includes a bottom 1, side walls 2 and 3 and the top 4, the inner or folding edges of which are provided with inclined portions 5 adapted to fit tightly together when the box is in folded position. The top, bottom and side walls are hingedly connected together along their longitudinal edges by means of the hinges 6. The end portions which are indicated by the numeral 7 are securely held in position when the box is in its folded form by means of the transverse strips 8 which are set into each end of the top, bottom and side walls and are securely held in position by means of nails or any other suitable means. The end members 7 are further held against movement by means of the transverse rods 9 which extend through the side wall 3, thence through the transverse groove 10 formed in the inner face of the end walls and project through the side Wall 2 and are provided with nuts 11 whereby to securely retain the rods in their effective positions. One end of each of the rods is provided with a hook portion 12 which is adapted to engage within the outer face of the side wall 3 to securely hold the rods against any turning movement whatever.

When it is desired to use my improved folding box as a table, the top, bottom and side walls are arranged in a level position and are supported by means of the pivoted bars 13 which are mounted within the brackets 14 secured to the inner face of the side wall 2 and the bottom. The table is further supported by means of the legs 15 which are formed in sections and include the upper sections 15 which are secured toeach end of the brackets 14 and the lower sections 16 which are adjustably supported with respect to the upper sections 15. Secured to the upper section at the lower end thereof, are the sleeves 17 in which the lower sections 16 of the legs are slidably mounted. The inner face of each of the lower sections is provided with a longitudinal groove 18 in which the spring member 19 is arranged, said spring member being provided with an out-turned lower end 20, whereby when the lower section is in an extended position, the out-turned end 20 of the spring 19 will engage with the lower end of the upper section 15' and retain the lower section in its extended position.

The upper sections of the supporting legs are provided with suitable brace members 21 which are in the form of rods, the lower ends of which are rigidly secured to the inner faces of the side wall 2 and the bottom 1.

The table when set up ready for use, is securely held in position by suitable braces which includethe U-shaped brackets 22 suspended from the inner face of the side wall 2 and the bottom 1 and which are each formed from a single strip of metal, the ends of which are disposed at right angles and secured to the inner faces of the side and bottom Wall as shown at 23, said strip being bent downwardly and the intermediate portion thereof bent over on to the end portions to form a transverse supporting bar 24. The brackets upon the ends of the side wall and bottom 1 are pivotally connected by means of the link members 25 and 26, the inner ends of said members being pivotally connected to the transverse bar 24 at a central point, while the outer ends thereof are pivotally connected, as shown at 27. I

Secured to the end members 7 are the plates 28 which are provided with an offset portion 29 forming a recess 30, for the reception of the spring actuated handle 31, said handle member having its ends 32 arranged in parallel relation and provided with transverse openings, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The parallel ends 32 of the handle 31 extend through suitable openings 33 formed in the plate 28 and are disposed be tween the spaced perforated ears 34 formed upon the inner face of the plate. Extending through the ends 32 and the ears 34, is a rod 35, the ends of which are headed to prevent longitudinal movement of the same. Mounted upon the rod 35 and arranged between the two sets of ears, is a coil spring 36, one end of which extends over on to the offset portion 29, as shown at 37 while the other end thereof is wound upon one end of the handle member, as shown at 38, whereby when the handle member 31 is arranged in a horizontal position, when it is desired to lift the box, the spring 36 will be placed under tension, so that the tension of the same will return the handle member to its position within the recess 29.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable camping outfit which includes a folding table to be converted into a box, whereby the camp outfit may be readily packed therein when it is desired to move from place to place. It will be noted that when the device is folded into a box form, the brackets 22 will fold past each other and the supporting legs will fold inwardly so that the outer ends thereof will be brought together as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Any form of lock may be used for retaining the cover in its locked position and it will be apparent that if it is desired to use the box other than for packing a camping outfit therein, the brackets 14 and 22 may be readily removed as they are bolted or otherwise removably secured to the side wall 2 and the bottom of the box. It will also be apparent that my improved folding box and table can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice, without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is 1. A device of the class described including top, bottom and side members hingedly connected together, brackets carried by the bottom and one of the side members,'pivoted bars mounted within said brackets and normally arranged in alinement therewith, said bars being adapted to be disposed transversely of the top, bottom and side members whereby to support the same in a horizontal position, and adjustable supporting legs arranged beneath the horizontal members to support the same in spaced relation with the floor or other supporting member.

2. A device of the class described including a plurality of hingedly connected. sections, means for supporting said sections in a horizontal position, U-shaped brackets carried by the ends of certain of said sections, link members pivotally connecting said brackets, whereby to limit the outward swinging movement of said sections, and adjustable supporting legs arranged beneath said sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A device of the class described including a plurality of hingedly connected sections, pivoted bars carried by certain of said sections and adapted to support the other of said sections, U-shaped brackets supported at the ends of certain of said sections, and pivoted links connecting said brackets to retain the sections against folding movement, and adjustably supporting legs arranged beneath the central sections, whereby to support the sections in a horizontal position.

4. A device of the class described including a plurality of hingedly connected seclower section and provided with an outtions adapted to be arranged in a horizontal turned end adapted to engage with the position, means carried by certain of said lower end of the upper section to retain the sections and adapted to engage beneath the sleeves in an adjusted position.

other sections to retain all of the sections in In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 1 an alined position, supporting legs ar signature in the presence of two Witnesses. ranged beneath said sections and including JOSEPH CLINTON MILES.

an upper section, sleeves carried thereby, a Witnesses:

lower section slidably arranged within said JAMES N. S. Porn,

sleeves and a spring member carried by the GEORGE WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

